February 23, 2012

The one gambling expansion bill that has been filed at the Alabama Statehouse, as of press time, deals with legalizing a state lottery.

House Bill 282, sponsored by Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, and co-sponsored by Reps. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham and Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, would amend the constitution and “establish an Alabama Lottery to fund education and General Fund programs.” The bill, which was assigned to the Ways and Means Education Committee, also seeks to “establish the Lottery Trust Fund.”

Two years ago, Rogers filed a similar bill to authorize a state lottery. It was assigned to the tourism and travel committee but never made it to the House floor.

Alabama Citizen’s Action Program Executive Director Joe Godfrey said this bill is just like the one proposed in the 1990s.

Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, told television station WBRC that he also planned to file a lottery bill to fund education and assist the state with its financial woes.